"I'm very interested to make sure that they get the right message of Islam while they're growing and there's a system, there's a structure in home that we try and adhere to, to make it right.
 |
| Mirza Ramzan Sharif (left) with Imam IH Kauser at Baitul Huda Mosque |
| Listen to ABC News audio report: |
Source/Credit: ABC News
By Lindy Kerin | April 9, 2015
MICHAEL BRISSENDEN: The controversial Muslim leader Keysar Trad has told a Sydney forum he can understand the desire of some young Muslims to join overseas conflicts.
The head of the Islamic Friendship Association was the key speaker at the University of Western Sydney forum on countering radicalisation of young Muslims.
AM's Lindy Kerin went along to the event and filed this report.
LINDY KERIN: He describes himself the roving Imam, delivering sermons across New South Wales.
Last night Keysar Trad said it's time for an open and honest conversation about the radicalisation of young Muslims.
KEYSAR TRAD: I don't aim to be politically correct today. Some of what I'm going to say is going to make some of you agree with the judge who declared me to be dangerous.
LINDY KERIN: He referred to the case of Northern Territorian Matthew Gardiner, who's alleged to have joined Kurdish forces in Syria fighting against Islamic State.
Keysar Trad says when it comes to joining foreign conflicts, there appears to be a double standard.
KEYSAR TRAD: If he just went through the belief that he wants to fight against this group that he believes to be a very evil group, if he did it for that reason, why do we wonder when a Muslim person is exposed to any of these atrocities that have been committed against his relatives? Why do we wonder why the blood inside that young Muslim doesn't boil to the extent that he feels that he has to do something?
LINDY KERIN: Keysar Trad says joining Islamic State militants is not the answer but he can understand the lure of radicalism.
KEYSAR TRAD: I understand the desire to want to help oppressed people but what I tell 'em in my sermons and in my meetings is that there's a better way to help.
LINDY KERIN: A number of parents have recently called on Keysar Trad to talk to their children about the realities of entering conflicts overseas.
KEYSAR TRAD: This is pretty much what I do, talk to people and explain to them and stress to them their value, that you are a valuable individual. You are a valuable member of Australian society, you are a valuable member of the Muslim community, that I don't want to lose you.
LINDY KERIN: Dr Jan Ali from the university's Religion and Society Research Centre says there's still a lack of understanding about radicalisation.
JAN ALI: As far as the empirical research is concerned, we don't have much data at the moment to determine various factors that contribute to Muslim radicalisation and I think understanding Muslim radicalisation is a step forward and also is part of the solution.
LINDY KERIN: Among the crowd last night was Mirza Ramzan Sharif.
He's from the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association of Australia and is a father of four children from primary school to university age.
MIRZA RAMZAN SHARIF: I'm very interested to make sure that they get the right message of Islam while they're growing and there's a system, there's a structure in home that we try and adhere to, to make it right.
LINDY KERIN: He says he wonders whether parents are doing enough to protect their children from radicalisation.
MIRZA RAMZAN SHARIF: Parents play a very vital role because the structure, it starts in the home and the parents are present with the children most of the time but then it's the community atmosphere as well because our children go and mingle round with, you know, there's peer pressure and there's other children in there too and then what teaching is dispensed through the community mosque, for example the Friday sermons and things like that.
So every structure has to be right to make sure the children are not radicalised but even if children are lured away through social media and other means, we've got to keep a tab on all these things too.
MICHAEL BRISSENDEN: That's Sydney father Mirza Ramzan Sharif ending Lindy Kerin's report.
http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2015/s4212977.htm
Read original post here: Sydney forum countering radicalisation of young Muslims
This content-post is archived for backup and to keep archived records of any news Islam Ahmadiyya. The views expressed by the author and source of this news archive do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of Ahmadiyya Times. Ahmadiyya Times is not an organ of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, nor in any way associated with any of the community's official websites.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thank you for your comments. Any comments irrelevant to the post's subject matter, containing abuses, and/or vulgar language will not be approved.